Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Indigenous trees restore soil microbial biomass at faster rates than exotic species

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and aims

Microbial community characterization is used as a disturbance indicator for soils. However, there is little evidence on the response of soil microbes to restoration. We aim to study the effects of restoration, using different trees, on soil communities and document temporal changes.

Methods

On a phosphate mine in Yunnan Province, China we selected sites with different restoration ages (2, 23, and 30 years) and tree species (Eucalyptus globulus (exotic), Cupressus torulosa, Pinus yunnanensis (both indigenous)). Control sites included natural land, and disturbed sites without vegetation. Soil microbial communities were characterized using Phospholipid-derived fatty acids analysis. Soil nutrients concentrations were analysed.

Results

Compared to control sites, disturbed soils exhibited significantly lower microbial diversity, bacterial biomass, soil organic carbon and nutrient concentrations. Recultivation with trees restored the soil microbial communities to a state similar to natural soils. Indigenous trees increased soil N concentration, and microbial biomass at a faster rate than the exotic Eucalyptus trees. Soil microbial diversity increased with plantation age.

Conclusion

Soil communities can be used as soil health indicators in restoration monitoring. Additionally, soil microbial communities recovered fastest under indigenous compared to exotic trees, which further underlines the importance of tree species selection in restoration management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen SE (1989) Chemical analysis of ecological materials. Blackwell Scientific publications, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews RL, Broome SW (2006) Oak flat restoration on phosphate‐mine spoils. Restor Ecol 14:210–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aponte C, García LV, Marañón T (2013) Tree species effects on nutrient cycling and soil biota: a feedback mechanism favoring species coexistence. Forest Ecol Manag 309:36–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banning NC, Murphy DV (2008) Effect of heat-induced disturbance on microbial biomass and activity in forest soil and the relationship between disturbance effects and microbial community structure. Appl Soil Ecol 40:109–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banning NC, Gleeson DB, Grigg AH, Grant CD, Andersen GL, Brodie EL, Murphy DV (2011) Soil microbial community successional patterns during forest ecosystem restoration. Appl Environ Microb 77:6158–6164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bardgett RD, Bowman WD, Kaufmann R, Schmidt SK (2005) A temporal approach to linking aboveground and belowground ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 20:634–641

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bossio DA, Scow KM (1998) Impacts of carbon and flooding on soil microbial communities: phospholipid fatty acid profiles and substrate utilization patterns. Microb Ecol 35:265–278

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brant JB, Myrold DD, Sulzman EW (2006) Root controls on soil microbial community structure in forest soils. Oecologia 148:650–659

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Briones MJI, Ineson P (1996) Decomposition of eucalyptus leaves in litter mixtures. Soil Biol Biochem 28:1381–1388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buee M, Reich M, Murat C, Morin E, Nilsson RH, Uroz S, Martin F (2009) 454 Pyrosequencing analyses of forest soils reveal an unexpectedly high fungal diversity. New Phytol 184:449–456

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Canhoto C, Graça MAS (1999) Leaf barriers to fungal colonization and shredders (Tipula lateralis) consumption of decomposing Eucalyptus globulus. Microb Ecol 37:163–172

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1991) Plant inputs of carbon to metal-contaminated soil and effects on the soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 23:1169–1177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chodak M, Niklińska M (2010) Effect of texture and tree species on microbial properties of mine soils. Appl Soil Ecol 46:268–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu CJ, Mortimer PE, Wang HC, Wang YF, Liu XB, Yu SX (2014) Allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus on native and introduced tree species. Forest Ecol Manag 323:79–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Antonio C, Meyerson LA (2002) Exotic plant species as problems and solutions in ecological restoration: a synthesis. Restor Ecol 10:703–713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daehler CC (2003) Performance comparisons of co-occurring native and alien invasive plants: implications for conservation and restoration. Annu Rev Ecol Evol S 2003:183–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakora FD, Phillips DA (2002) Root exudates as mediators of mineral acquisition in low-nutrient environments. Plant Soil 245:35–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeGrood SH, Claassen VP, Scow KM (2005) Microbial community composition on native and drastically disturbed serpentine soils. Soil Biol Biochem 37:1427–1435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld JG, Ravit B, Elgersma K (2005) Feedback in the plant-soil system. Annu Rev Environ Resour 30:75–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) (2006) Guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients. http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/9241594012/en/

  • Gianinazzi S, Gollotte A, Binet MN, van Tuinen D, Redecker D, Wipf D (2010) Agroecology: the key role of arbuscular mycorrhizas in ecosystem services. Mycorrhiza 20:519–530

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill TC, Walsh KA, Harris JA, Moffett BF (2003) Using ecological diversity measures with bacterial communities. FEMS Microb Ecol 43:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain Z, Sugiyama S (2011) Geographical structure of soil microbial communities in northern Japan: effects of distance, land use type and soil properties. Eur J Soil Biol 47:88–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jangid K, Williams MA, Franzluebbers AJ, Schmidt TM, Coleman DC, Whitman WB (2011) Land-use history has a stronger impact on soil microbial community composition than aboveground vegetation and soil properties. Soil Biol Biochem 43:2184–2193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang G, Zheng X, Hu Y (2012) Forest health assessment in the Badaling Forest Farm of Beijing based on GIS and RS. JDCTA 6:87–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalchuk GA, Buma DS, de Boer W, Klinkhamer PGL, van Veen JA (2002) Effects of above-ground plant species composition and diversity on the diversity of soil-borne microorganisms. Anton Leeuw Int J Gen Mol Microbiol 81:509–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulmatiski A, Beard KH (2011) Long-term plant growth legacies overwhelm short-term plant growth effects on soil microbial community structure. Soil Biol Biochem 43:823–830

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner P, Crowley D, Yang CH (2004) Development of specific rhizosphere bacterial communities in relation to plant species, nutrition and soil type. Plant Soil 261:199–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matula J (1996) Determination of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and cation exchange capacity for fertilizer recommendations used by Czech Union of Rapeseed Growers. Commun Soil Sci Plant 27:1679–1691

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes R, Garbeva P, Raaijmakers JM (2013) The rhizosphere microbiome: significance of plant beneficial, plant pathogenic, and human pathogenic microorganisms. FEMS Microb Rev 37:634–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mummey DL, Stahl PD, Buyer JS (2002a) Microbial biomarkers as an indicator of ecosystem recovery following surface mine reclamation. Appl Soil Ecol 21:251–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mummey DL, Stahl PD, Buyer JS (2002b) Soil microbiological properties 20 years after surface mine reclamation: spatial analysis of reclaimed and undisturbed sites. Soil Biol Biochem 34:1717–1725

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell AG, Seasman M, Macrae A, Waite I, Davies JT (2001) Plants and fertilisers as drivers of change in microbial community structure and function in soils. Plant Soil 232:135–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palfner G, Casanova-Katny MA, Read DJ (2005) The mycorrhizal community in a forest chronosequence of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.] in Northern England[J]. Mycorrhiza 15:571–579

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parkinson JA, Allen SE (1975) A wet oxidation procedure suitable for the determination of nitrogen and mineral nutrients in biological material. Commun Soil Sci Plan 6:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ponder F Jr, Tadros M (2002) Phospholipid fatty acids in forest soil 4 years after organic matter removal and soil compaction. Appl Soil Ecol 19:173–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Loinaz G, Onaindia M, Amezaga I, Mijangos I, Garbisu C (2008) Relationship between vegetation diversity and soil functional diversity in native mixed-oak forests. Soil Biol Biochem 40:49–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi LL, Mortimer PE, Slik JWF, Zou XM, Xu JC, Feng WT, Qiao L (2014) Variation in forest soil fungal diversity along a latitudinal gradient. Fungal Divers 64:305–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha RK, Lal R (2006) Ecosystem carbon budgeting and soil carbon sequestration in reclaimed mine soil. Environ Int 32:781–796

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stohlgren TJ, Binkley D, Chong GW, Kalkhan MA, Schell LD, Bull KA, Otsuki Y, Newman G, Bashkin M, Son Y (1999) Exotic plant species invade hot spots of native plant diversity. Ecol Monogr 69:25–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Styger E, Rakotoarimanana JEM, Rabevohitra R, Fernandes ECM (1999) Indigenous fruit trees of Madagascar: potential components of agroforestry systems to improve human nutrition and restore biological diversity. Agroforest Syst 46:289–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tscherko D, Rustemeier J, Richter A, Wanek W, Kandeler E (2003) Functional diversity of the soil microflora in primary succession across two glacier forelands in the Central Alps. Eur J Soil Sci 54:685–696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tscherko D, Hammesfahr U, Marx MC, Kandelera E (2004) Shifts in rhizosphere microbial communities and enzyme activity of Poa alpine, across an alpine chronosequence. Soil Biol Biochem 36:1685–1698

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tunlid A, Hoitink HAJ, Low C, White DC (1989) Characterization of bacteria that suppress Rhizoctonia damping-off in bark compost media by analysis of fatty acid biomarkers. Appl Environ Microb 55:1368–1374

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turnbull JW (1999) Eucalypt plantations /Planted Forests: Contributions to the Quest for Sustainable Societies. Springer, Netherlands, pp 37–52

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Twieg BD, Durall DM, Simard SW (2007) Ectomycorrhizal fungal succession in mixed temperate forests. New Phytol 176:437–447

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Unger IM, Goyne KW, Kennedy AC, Kremer RJ, McLain JET, Williams FC (2013) Antibiotic effects on microbial community characteristics in soils under conservation management practices. Soil Sci Soc Am J 77:100–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Putten WH, Van Dijk C, Peters BAM (1993) Plant-specific soil-borne diseases contribute to succession in foredune vegetation. Nature 362:53–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kleunen M, Weber E, Fischer M (2010) A meta-analysis of trait differences between invasive and non-invasive plant species. Ecol Lett 13:235–245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallander H, Johansson U, Sterkenburg E, Durling MB, Lindahl BD (2010) Production of ectomycorrhizal mycelium peaks during canopy closure in Norway spruce forests. New Phytol 187:1124–1134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ying JY, Zhang LM, Wei WX, He JZ (2013) Effects of land utilization patterns on soil microbial communities in an acid red soil based on DNA and PLFA analyses. J Soils Sediment 13:1223–1231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded through the support of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, under the 12th 5-year National Key Technology Support Program (NKTSP) 2013BAB07B06 integration and comprehensive demonstration of key technologies on Green Phosphate-mountain Construction. We would also like to thank the CGIAR Research Program 6: Forest, Trees and Agroforestry, for partially funding this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China

    Chun Li, Ling-Ling Shi, Anne Ostermann, Jianchu Xu & Peter E. Mortimer

  2. World Agroforestry Centre, East and Central Asia, Kunming, China

    Chun Li, Ling-Ling Shi, Anne Ostermann, Jianchu Xu & Peter E. Mortimer

  3. The State Phosphorus Resource Development and Utilization Engineering Technology Research Centre, Yunnan Phosphate Chemical Group Co. Ltd, Kunming, China

    Yunju Li

Authors
  1. Chun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ling-Ling Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anne Ostermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jianchu Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yunju Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Peter E. Mortimer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jianchu Xu or Peter E. Mortimer.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Eric Paterson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, C., Shi, LL., Ostermann, A. et al. Indigenous trees restore soil microbial biomass at faster rates than exotic species. Plant Soil 396, 151–161 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2570-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2570-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation